Picker roll construction for fur blowing machines



Sept; 19427 P. SCHULTZE 2,295,762

PICKER ROLL CONSTRUCTION FOR FUR BLOWING MACHINES Filed Fb. 20. 1941 INVENTOR A 904. 501 04 7Z5 Patented Sept. 15, 1942 PICKER ROLL CONSTRUCTION FOR FUR BLOWING MACHINES Paul Schultze, Danbury, Conn., assignor to Doran Brothers, Incorporated, Danbury, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application February 20, 1941, Serial No. 379,894

11 Claims. (CI. 19-97) This invention relates to picker roll construction, more particularly to the construction of socalled picker rolls or picker cylinders for blowing or separating fur for fur felt manufacture.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a practical and durable picker roll construction that will be of dependable and lasting action in use. Another object is to provide a picker roll construction that will be well adapted to meet the varying conditions of hard practical use and that will dependably overcome disadvantages of prior constructions. Another object is to provide a picker roll construction having sectionalized elements capable of quantity manufacture, ease of Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of certain features of this invention, it might at this point be noted that, in so-called blowing machines used in the fur felt industry, picker rolls are employed to effect, in coaction with other elements, a separation of the desired fur fibers from heavier fur fibers and heavy foreign material, like pieces of skin, the picker rolls having to operate at high rotary speeds on the order of 4000 R. P. M., certain of the separating actions taking place as a result of the high velocity imparted to the assembly, replacement or disassembly, and pref- 1'! particles by the rapidly revolving picker rolls, erably readily interchangeable. Another object ausing the heavier particles to exert centrifugal is to provide a picker roll construction of the lasto s S e t o discharge m tangentially mentioned nature in which the sectionalized elew y r m h l h r p r i l s which are moved m nt may b m u ted upon and placedin driving on in the desired direction by air currents proconnection with the rotary support in a mechan- 20 duced by the projecting picker parts of the roically simple and thoroughly reliable manner, tating picker roll. Prior picker roll constructions Another object is to provide a picker r011 conused in the fur felt art comprise a wide leather struction having sectionalized picker elements castrip W u d el al y about a cyli dr S pp pable of withstanding the strains and stresses atand Secured e e s y an adhesive, the leather tendant upon high peripheral velocities and ca- Strip having protruding herefrom the ends of pable of achieving good dynamic balance under Wire staples; V ed fficul ies have been exconditions of high rotary speeds. Another obperienced with such prior constructions. For exject is to provide a simple, practical and inexpenp after Continued use or if u je ted to consive arrangement for mounting and demounting Siderahle burden of mechanical Work, e p of picker sections relative to their rotary support. trllding e en s d to ay o er in a direction Another object is in general to improve upon the away fr m the direction of r y movement. due construction of picker rolls, particularly of the P y t0 s e bending of he Wire elements ki d f u i th fu f lt indust y, as i fu themselves or probably to loosening of their blowing machines. Other objects will be in part m n in in he l r p r r in probobvious or in part pointed out hereinafter. y from Widening Or e e t of the holes The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of my invention,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a complete in the leather as a result of the varying strains to which the Wire elements are subjected. Such slanting backwardly, as it were, of the wire elements detrimentally affects the separating action of the picker roll. Such a loosening up, also, or backward slanting of the wire elements and other impairments of efiiciency orof action may be caused also by dislodging of the leather mounting strip, particularly if it is incapable of withstanding the centrifugal forces which are exerted by its picker roll; wire elements and by itself; thus, such forces Figure 2 is an end view, as seen from the left in might cause i o stre h and h loosen p its Figure 1; connection to the support. One of the dominant Figure 3 is a perspective view on a larger scale of a fastening device;

Figure 4 is a detached central longitudinal view of one of the sections, as seen along the line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a picker pin or needle.

aims of this invention is to provide a picker roll construction in which such disadvantages as those just pointed out may be overcome in a thoroughly practical and efiicient way.

Turning now to the drawing and more particu larly to Figures 1 and 2, the picker roll construction comprises preferably a cylindrical support 10 of suitable length and diameter and constructed in any suitable way to be provided at its ends with shaft-like extensions ll, l2 by which it may be mounted for rotation in suitable bearings and for being driven at a suitable speed, a speed on the order of say 4000 R. P. M. where the effective outside diameter of the complete picker roll is on the order of say 4". The parts Ill-I l-I2 may be constructed in any suitable manner and illustratively and preferably the supporting cylinder I is made tubular and for lightness may be made of a suitable alloy such as a magnesium alloy, While the shaft element's lli2 may be secured to or fitted into the end heads generally indicated at l0 and of the tubular element I!) in any suitable manner or may be integral therewith. The resultant rotary support HlEl-l2 is preferably dynamically balanced.

Onto the cylindrical portion I0 is snugly fitte a suitable number of tubular or sleeve-like elements or sections generally indicated by thereference character [4, carrying the picker pinsor points generally indicated by the reference character l5. The sleeve members It are preferably relatively'thin-walled and made of a material of good tensile strength and preferably a material having a temperature coeificient of expansion equal to or closely the same as that of the material of the cylindrical supporting part 10. The material of sleeve members is is preferably a non-metallic material and preferably made of a material that can be molded, under suitable conditions of heat andpressure, into the desired shape and configuration and, where substantial equality of temperature coefficients is desired, the supporting element [0 may be made of an alloy such as Dow metal and the sleeve element or elements is made by molding a phenolic condensation product, such as Bakelite, preferably, however, with fibrous material, such as layers of suitable fabric embodied therein and impregnated by and bound together with the Bakelite. Where such a fibrous material is thus embodied, the strength of the resultant sleeve structure is materially increased. Other advantages and coactions are noted hereinafter.

The supporting structure [0, when made of metal, may be machined to a given outside diameter and the sleeve elements M are molded to have an inside diameter such that they fit snugly and without play onto the support It], a suitable number of them being sleeved onto the support it. The latter, with such a fit, gives all partsof each sleeve element uniform support and the sleeve element or elements may thus be dependably prevented from getting out of round and, moreover, may be made quite thin-walled, even though the stresses or strains caused 'by high rotary or peripheral velocities may be substantial. These coactions also aid in maintaining dynamic balance, a feature of substantial practical advantage in counteracting or avoiding the setting up of harmful vibration. I llustratively, the sleeve element l4 may have an inside diameter of 2%," and an outside diameter of 3% making a wall thickness of 2".

The sleeve members I4 are preferably of a length convenient for molding when made, of a non-metallic or moldable material and also of a length such that the over-all length of the. supporting member I0 is a suitable multiple of the length of a sleeve member l4 so thata suitable numbensuch as four or .five, may be accommodated within the length of the supporting memher IS; an illustrative length of sleeve member M may be on the order of 4 Each sleeve member I4 has uniformly distributed throughout, preferably in peripherally and axially extending rows and projecting preferably radially from its external surface, a suitable number of picker pins or needles l5, preferably numerous and preferably closely spaced, projecting from the surface by an amount on the order of An illustrative spacing or distribution is indicated in the drawing where, for example, the peripherally extending rows of picker pins are spaced axially center to center by about and where the peripheral spacing between pins in each row is on the order of These pins are anchored in the element I4 and to avoid weakening the latter, particularly along lines parallel to the axis, the pins of alternate rows are peripherally displaced or staggered with respect to the pins of the next adjacent rows. Thus, also, a better distribution of the pin points is achieved.

The pins are preferably of metal, such as steel, and preferably are dimensioned to have not only good points but also good rigidity to resist the reactions of mechanical forces they exert upon the material that they operate upon. Thus, they may be of a thickness on the order of and pointed as is better shown in Figure 5.

The anchorage of the pins in the material of their support or sleeve member l4 should be one that can be quickly and inexpensively achieved in assembly and yet be adequately resistant to the mechanical strains or reactions exerted by the pins, including the centrifugal force that each pin exerts as a result of its high peripheral velocity of movement. For these purposes I have found it advantageous to form the picker pins, upon that portion thereof that is to be accommodated within the wall thickness of a sleeve member [4, with threads le (Figure 5) of relatively large pitch and terminating short of the stub end of the pin, thus to leave a cylindrical shank portion E5 of substantially the same diameter as the shank portion l5 which is to project beyond the surface of the sleeve member l4 and which, as shown in the drawing, is tapered oil or sharply pointed as at I5 In the sleeve member I4 I form in any suitable Way, as by drilling, holes Id extending radially and distributed in the manner in which it is desired that the pins [5 themselves are to be distributed. These holes are of a diameter about equal to the root diameter of the threads le that being virtually the diameter of the shank portion I5 With the sleeve member l4 preferably mounted upon a suitable mandrel, preferably of metal and snugly fitting inside of it, the pins l5 are assembled to their respective holes Id the cylindrical shank end 15 (Figure 5) matching the diameter of the holes and serving to start and aline the pin relative to its hole; thereupon, the pin is forced further into the hole, as by fitting over its tapered end a suitable device (not shown) having a tapered hole the walls of which engage the tapered part of the shank l5 without engaging or mutilating the sharp point. Pressure or suitable blows, as by tapping with a hammer, is applied to the device, thus forcing the pin into its hole and causing the threads Ifi to cut their own thread-like pathway into the Walls of the hole. When the stub end of the pin engages the mandrel, the pin has reached the depth of its inward radial movement of assembly to the sleeve member 14, and thus all of the pins-be"- come mounted and positioned along a radius and always with their center of mass at the same distance from the axis of the sleeve member I4. Thereby, also, uniform mass distribution of the pins is achieved and dynamic balance undisturbed. Also, the anchorage is firm and adequately resists dislodgement of the pin, particularly as against the centrifugal forces it exerts.

End to end, the sleeve members 14 are preferably constructed to interfit, when sleeved onto the cylindrical support l0, so that relative rotation therebetween does not take place and to simplify the construction, particularly for molding purposes and for uniformity throughout, I prefer that each sleeve member I l be stepped at its respective end edge portions in a way to achieve symmetry about a diagonal plane or axis, such as indicated at AA in Figure 1; thus, the right-hand end of each sleeve member I4 is stepped back or, in effect, recessed throughout 180 of its extent, as indicated at l l leaving a portion l4 also preferably of 180 in extent projecting axially or toward the right. Its lefthand end, in symmetry to the right-hand end with respect to the plane or axis AA is stepped back or recessed as at I5 leaving an axially extending portion l both of 180 in extent. Thus, each sleeve member comprises several, illustratively two, segments of the same axial length and preferably of the same circumferential extent, illustratively 180 where formed to provide two segments.

Thus, when sleeved onto the support If), the projecting portion M of one sleeve member I4 is received into the recess or stepped-back portion M of its next adjacent sleeve member M while the portion IQ of the latter is fitted into the portion I 4 of the former. Thus, continuity of coverage of the rotary support Ill by the sleeve members I4 is achieved by such interfitting end to end while no sleeve member can partake of rotation relative to an adjacent one.

The parts are preferably so proportioned that the projecting end part i at one end of the assembly and the projecting end portion lfi at the other end of the assembly have their end faces fall respectively in the planes of the end faces ll] and [li of the part It. To each of the latter I secure, as by screws I! (Figure 2), securing and keying members l8 and I9, these members being thus in pairs and being symmetrically constructed and of substantially the same weight, thus to maintain substantial dynamic balance, being mounted in diametric opposition to each other, as is better shown in Figure 2.

These members have arcuate portions l8 and I9 respectively, of the curvature of the shaft elements Hl2 with which they interfit, as shown in Figure 2, and outer arcuate portions I 8* and 19 respectively, to match with and in effect form continuations of the outer cylindrical surface of the sleeve members [4.

Members [8 and I9 are, in effect, plate-like in shape, as appears better from Figure 3 where one of these members I9 is shown in perspective, and when secured in place, as by the screws l1, their inner faces lie flush against the end faces l0 and Ill of the cylindrical support If! and also against a part of the end face of the axially extended or projecting portion M or M as the case may be, alined as above pointed out with the end faces respectively of the cylindrical support I0. Member H) has a part 20, integrally formed with it, and arcuate in shape, to extend into the stepped-back portion M at the left-hand end and into the portion W at the right-hand end of the assembly, as shown in Figure 1, while members [8 of the two pairs have correspondingly symmetrically positioned parts 20 (see Figure 2) that likewise overlie the end portions of the cylindrical support 10 and take respectively into the above-mentioned stepped-back parts l4 and I4.

Members l8|9 thus hold the sleeve member or members against displacement in an axial direction relative to the cylindrical support I0 and in interlocking with the ends thereof, somewhat in the same way that adjacent ends of the several sleeve members interlock or interfit, relative rotation between the sleeve member or members and the rotary support cannot take place.

In operation suitable dynamic balance is thus achieved and smoothness and dependability of action result. Thus, for each part or portion to one side of a plane through the axis there is a like part or portion on the other side of the axis for counterbalance. Also, warping of the thinwalled sleeve members is guarded against and the structure achieves desirable lightness of weight or mass. Assembly and disassembly are simple and speedy and thus, also, as sometimes happens, disassembly may be rapidly accomplished for purposes of replacing one or more of the sections, in the event that one or more picker pins or needles has been damaged as by some hard foreign substance entering the apparatus with the fur to be blown. Also, long continuity and better efiiciency of desired picker action are achieved since such deficiencies of heretofore known practices as above-mentioned are dependably overcome.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A picker roll construction comprising a cylindrical support from whose end faces extend coaxial shaft-like elements, sleeve-like means having projecting therefrom picker pins and sleeved onto and snugly interfitting with said cylindrical support and having its ends terminating respectively adjacent said end faces, and means secured to said end faces and each having a portion interfitting with the shaft-like element at the end face to which it is secured, said two means and the respective ends of said sleeve means having interengaging parts to hold said sleeve means against axial and rotary displacement relative to said cylindrical support.

2. A picker roll construction comprising a cylindrical support from whose end faces extend coaxial shaft-like elements, sleeve-like means having projecting therefrom picker pins and sleeved onto and snugly interfitting with said cylindrical support and having its ends terminating respectively adjacent said end faces, said sleeve means being at its ends stepped, and means at each end face of said cylindrical support interfitting respectively with the stepped ends of said sleeve means to hold the latter against rotary displacement relative to said cylindrical support.

3. A picker roll as claimed in claim 2 in which the two ends of said sleeve means are stepped in opposite directions relative to the direction of rotation of the picker roll, Whereby the means at one end face holds the sleeve means against rotary displacement in one direction relative to said cylindrical support and the means at the other end face holds the sleeve means against rotary displacement in the opposite direction relative to said cylindrical support.

4. A picker roll construction comprising a cylindrical support from whose end faces extend coaxial shaft-like elements, sleeve-like means having projecting therefrom picker pins and sleeved onto and snugly interfitting with said cylindrical support and having its ends terminating respectively adjacent said end faces, said ends of said sleeve means being stepped, and means coacting with said stepped ends of said sleeve means for holding the latter against axial and rotary displacement relative to said cylindrical support.

5. A picker roll construction comprising a cylindrical support and sleeve-like picker pin carrying means comprising a plurality of sleeve elements sleeved onto and snugly interfitting with said cylindrical support, each of said sleeve elements having its respective ends stepped to provide a plurality of axially extending portions of substantially the same length but axially displaced and thereby having stepped ends that interfit when said sleeve elements are sleeved end to end onto said support, and means coacting with the free ends of the interfitted sleeve elements for holding them as a unit against axial and rotary displacement relative to said support.

6. A picker roll construction comprising a relatively thin-walled sleeve means of a moulded non-metallic rigid material, said material of said sleeve means being continuous and unitary throughout the 360 degrees extent of said sleeve means and having good resistance to stretching and having projecting from its external surface and suitably distributed throughout a plurality of picker pins having shank portions extending into the sleeve means, said shank portions being gripped and held by the material of said sleeve means and having inner terminal ends free from lateral projections with the end faces of said terminal ends substantially aligned with the inner cylindrical face of said sleeve means, said picker pins being of substantially the same length and thereby having their outer terminal ends aligned as a result of the aforesaid alignment of the faces of said inner terminal ends, means supporting said sleeve means for rotation at high peripheral velocities and comprising a cylindrical metallic support snugly fitted into said sleeve means and preventing the latter from getting out of round under the strains of exerted centrifugal forces, and means for holding said sleeve means assembled to said cylindrical support.

7. A picker roll construction as claimed in claim 6 in which said anchoring means comprises projecting elements on said shank portions, said elements extending along the shank portions in substantially helical curves and being embedded in the material of the sleeve means, thereby to resist dislodgement, under the centrifugal forces exerted by the pins at high peripheral velocities, also by the resistance offered by the embedded helical elements and the material of the sleeve means to rotational movement of the pins.

8. A subassembly for a picker roll construction comprising a relatively thin-walled sleeve member having a plurality of substantially radially extending holes therethrough with picker pins anchored in said holes, said picker pins having shank portions of substantially the same diameter as said holes with thread-like means of substantial pitch terminating short of the ends of the shank portions to leave externally smooth end sections of said shank portions for initial entry into their respective holes, said threadlike means being embedded in the walls of the holes as a result of forcing said shank portions into their respective holes.

9. A subassembly for a picker roll construction comprising a sleeve member of molded nonmetallic material carrying a plurality of picker pins having shank portions embedded and thereby anchored in the material of said sleeve member, said sleeve member having its ends symmetrically stepped whereby a suitable number of sleeve members may be axially alined end to end and their adjacent ends lnterfit.

10. A subassembly for a picker roll construction comprising a sleeve member of molded nonmetallic material having a plurality of distributed holes, each hole extending from the external cylindrical face to the internal cylindrical face of said sleeve member, for receiving and supporting a plurality of picker pins, said picker pins being of the same overall length and having operative portions to be exposed from said external cylindrical face of said sleeve member and having shank portions force-fitted respectively into said holes in the direction from the external cylindrical face toward said internal cylindrical face of said sleeve member, the inner terminal ends of all of said pins being substantially aligned with said inner cylindrical face and thereby bringing the terminal ends of their 0perative portions of said picker pins into substantial coincidence with a geometric cylindrical plane of greater radius than the radius of said external cylindrical face.

11. A picker roll construction comprising sleeve means of a moulded non-metallic rigid material having projecting from its external surface and suitably distributed throughout a plurality of picker pins having shank portions rigidly anchored in the material of said sleeve means, the outer ends of said pins lying substantially in a cylindrical plane of a radius greater than the larger radius of said sleeve means, and a cylindrical support having means for supporting it for rotation about its axis, said cylindrical support PAUL SCHULTZE. 

